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Friday, September 30, 2011

Tonight I'm going to see Courageous. It's another great movie by the Kendrick brothers. My first taste was Facing the Giants. Then on TV my husband and I came across Flywheel (Director's Cut) and then there was Fireproof. These films portray godly values and fallen man. We can never hope to attain what God has for us until we admit our sins. This is something I am learning in my 1 John Good Morning Girls Bible study. Anyway, I can't wait to see this new movie and go on a date with my husband! I hope to give you a review sometime next week. Have a great weekend!

By the way, have YOU seen any of the other movies? What did you think?

I fell off the bandwagon this week. My husband was home one day and the next day I hurt my back. I was out for 2 days. Yesterday I was feeling better so I decided to tackle some regular stuff. I love accountability and I've been a part of this Facebook group: 31 Days-Mamas of Littles. They have recurring "cleaning challenges" where someone is the host and says that it's time. We pick 4 things do for 10 minutes each with a 10 minute break. We get 4 tasks done in one hour. It's amazing how fast I work and love to say what I accomplished with encouragement from the other girls. I must admit that I haven't done too many of these challenges because they don't always coincide with my time frame, but I love it when I do it. It makes me feel so much better than wasting my day and scrambling to clean up as my husband calls me that he's coming home. Get connected to a group HERE.

Thursday, September 29, 2011

If you have not purchased the Warrior Prayers ebook yet, I highly encourage you to do so during this sale. This is one of the best books that I have used to pray for my son. There are 210 Scripture verses that you insert your child's name into as you pray all centered around 21 areas such as heart change, obedience, love, humility, etc. I just did 21 Days of Prayer for my son and it was incredible. So I recommend that if you do not have this book, you get it soon. The sale ends October 7th. The ebook is only $2.99 until then. This is for PDF only.

2-3 cooked chicken breasts, skin and bone removed, meat shredded or chopped into ½-inch chunks.
In large soup pot, heat oil or fat. Sauté onion until clear. Stir in carrots and zucchini and cook a few minutes more. Stir in broth. Bring to boil and stir in egg noodles. Simmer 15-20 minutes. Stir in marjoram, parsley, salt and pepper, and chicken meat. Simmer another 15 minutes.
These times are approximate. So remember to taste and adjust according to what you like.

Helpful hints: Grate carrots and zucchini the night before and put in containers in the fridge. Cook up the chicken the night before too and shred. All I had to do was dump!

Ha, you thought this would be boring, but let me tell you, I have made many chicken noodle soups and this one is my favorite and it was pretty too with the pasta I used! It's a keeper and it made quite a lot. It think what I like best was the shredded veggies.

It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old...or for somewhere in between! Enjoy your free peek into the book!

Elizabeth George, whose books have sold more than 6.5 million copies, is the author of A Woman After God’s Own Heart® (more than 1 million copies sold) and Breaking the Worry Habit Forever! She’s also a popular speaker at Christian women’s events. Elizabeth and her husband, Jim, are parents and grandparents, and have been active in ministry for more than 30 years.

Elizabeth George, bestselling author and mother of two daughters, provides biblical insight and guidance for every mom who wants to lead their daughter to a godly life through example, study, and prayer. Elizabeth includes questions to draw moms and daughter closer as together they pursue spiritual priorities and God’s heart.

You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.
And these words which I command you today
shall be in your heart.

— Deuteronomy 6:5

On a recent Christmas Sunday, my husband, Jim, and I and our family of 14 arrived at a church service extra early to make sure we didn’t end up in the “Standing Room Only” section for this special occasion. With my bulletin in hand and several minutes to spare before the service started, I opened my Bible and looked up the Scripture passage the pastor would focus on during his message. Then I read through some additional teaching notes and commentary in the margin of my Bible. One article was entitled “The Bell Sheep.”

The bell sheep? What in the world is that? I wondered. I read on. The article explained that when a shepherd noticed a sheep who willingly followed him and stayed near him, he hung a bell around the neck of that sheep so the flock would follow the bell sheep…who, in turn, was following the shepherd.

Knowing I would begin writing Raising a Daughter After God’s Own Heart as soon as the Christmas holiday was over, I almost jumped out of my seat when I read this. I was shouting out in my mind, “That’s it! That’s it! A mom should be the bell sheep for her daughter!”

And it’s true! When we as mothers stay close to Jesus—as close as close can be, and when we love Him with all our heart just the way Jesus said to, and when we willingly follow Him and His Word, guess what? We become His bell sheep for our daughters to follow. Our girls observe—and copy—our behavior. They can—and will—follow our example. We become their very own personal walking, living, real flesh and blood, visual example of what it means to be a child, girl, tween, teen, and woman after God’s own heart.

How to Be a Bell Sheep…in Three Verses

Finally Christmas was over, meaning it was D-Day for me—or more accurately, W-Day as in Writing Day. So I sat down to begin and wondered and prayed, “Where does Christian childrearing really begin? And what is Thing 1, Goal 1 for a mom?”

In a few seconds I had the answer! And it came from God’s Word. It was packaged in three verses I had discovered as a young mom, and also as a baby Christian. I flashed back on those early new-believer days of excitement, of newness, of need as I hungered to find out for the first time what God teaches about…everything! And especially “What in the world am I supposed to do with two little toddling girls?”

I’m so glad a wise woman had advised me to read in my new Bible every day. Well, the day arrived when I made it to the book of Deuteronomy. And there I hit gold when my eyes landed on Deuteronomy 6:5-7. I was stunned. Amazed. Thrilled! God was actually showing me His guidelines for raising my own little daughters, then only one-and-a-half and two-and-a-half years old. And in only three verses! How practical is that? Here’s what I read over and over again and finally memorized:

You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.

I adore these verses because they are packed with clear communication to moms. God goes straight to the heart of the matter—the parent’s heart, the mom’s heart. He knows we become what we love. So He is utterly straightforward about where we are to place our love: We are to love Him supremely.

Two Questions to Ask Yourself

Believe me, I thought through this powerful passage—a lot! Then I took it apart word by word and thought by thought. And I came up with two questions I constantly asked my heart during those days with little girls, and still ask even today with two married daughters who are now raising their daughters. (After all, a mom is always a mom!)

Heart Question #1: What—and whom—do I love?

We “love” a lot of things for a lot of different reasons. But God prescribes perimeters and scope for our love. He tells us what not to love: “Do not love the world or the things in the world” (1 John 2:15). And He tells us what we are to love and where our love is to be focused—we are to “love the Lord” (Deuteronomy 6:5).

But hold on. The Lord goes a step further and demands all of our love. He wants us to love Him with every fiber of our being—every breath, every ounce of energy, every thought, every emotion and passion, every choice. He wants us to love Him. He wants us to think first of Him and to desire above all else to please Him. And He wants that love to be intense and total, “with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.” As writer Matthew Henry summarizes, “He that is our all demands our all.”

Matthew Henry continues on to point out that our love for God is to be a strong one that is lived out with great enthusiasm and fervency of affection. It is to be a love that burns like a sacred fire, a love that causes our every affection to flow toward Him.

Now, apply this information about the strength of this kind of love for God and think about the love you have for your daughter, for your children. I’m sure you’ve heard others say, “There is no love like a mother’s love.” And it’s true! From the split second we know a baby is on the way, all our thoughts, dreams, prayers, and goals are channeled toward that little one. We are completely consumed and preoccupied by this tiny being. As the baby grows within us, our love blossoms and our commitment to it grows right along with our expanding body.

Immediately we begin to prepare physically for his or her arrival by meticulously taking care of our health. Healthy mom equals healthy baby, we’re told. We also prepare physically by setting up a nursery area for the new little addition. A bassinet or crib. A blanket. A mobile. Clothes. Supplies. Loads of diapers! Sometimes we even paint or remodel a room.

Then we moms get to work preparing our schedule. Maybe we have to quit a job or arrange for a leave of absence. Oh, and we have to find a pediatrician, as well as make time for our own doctor appointments. And, if we’re smart, we begin to prepare by gathering wisdom and information from our own moms, other moms, and from classes, books, and the Internet.

But as much as we obsess and focus on an approaching child, God wants us to obsess and focus even more on Him. That’s because the more we love Him, the more we will know about love. And the more we know about love, the more we will know about how to love. And the more we know about how to love, the more we will love our baby, our child, our daughter. I like what C.S. Lewis wrote about his love for God and how it affected his relationship with his wife: “When I have learnt to love God better than my earthly dearest, I shall love my earthly dearest better than I do now.” Mom, your love for God will prepare you to love your child. The more you love the Lord, the better you shall love your earthly dearest daughter.

So…God’s first assignment to any and every mother is to love Him above all else. If you are a sold-out, on-fire, hot-hearted, committed-to-God woman, you will be infinitely further down the road to being the kind of mom who, by His grace, can raise a daughter after God’s own heart. Because all your love centers upon God, and because you follow Him with all your heart, you will qualify to lead your daughter to follow God too—to be…well…God’s bell sheep for her.

Heart Question #2: What’s in my heart?

I don’t know what’s in your heart, and I’m working on what’s in mine! But God tells both of us what is supposed to be there, what He wants to be there. Here it is: He says, “These words which I command you today shall be in your heart” (verse 6).

And here’s the scene surrounding these words: In Deuteronomy 6, Moses is in the final weeks of his life. It has been 40 years since God’s people left Egypt, 40 years of homeless wanderings in the desert. At last a new generation was poised to enter into the Promised Land. But before they move out, Moses restates the Law one more time to this new generation that had been born in the wilderness. Because this next generation had married and now had—and would have—children, he addresses their spiritual responsibility as parents. As Moses speaks, he doesn’t want these moms and dads to merely hear the words of the Law and the Ten Commandments. No, he wants more, way more! He wants the words of the Law to go beyond their ears and reside in their hearts.

You may want to look again at Deuteronomy 6:6, but it tells us that God’s Word, the Bible, is to be in our hearts. Other passages in the Bible send us this same message:

This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night (Joshua 1:8).

Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against you (Psalm 119:11).

My son, keep my words, and treasure my commands within you…bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart (Proverbs 7:1,3).

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly (Colossians 3:16).

The message is repeated…and loud, isn’t it? And clear! God’s Word is to be in our heart. He asks this of you and me as moms. Why? Because when truth resides in your heart, then you have something to pass on to your daughter. She benefits! And you benefit too: As a mother you have something to guide you when you need help, strength, wisdom, and perseverance in your role as a mom, as a bell sheep. Don’t get me wrong—having and raising a child is perhaps the greatest earthly blessing you will ever enjoy. But, at the same time, it is the greatest challenge. But take heart, mom! God’s Word will always be there in you, with you, and for you as you guide your daughter in the ways of the Lord.

So…God’s second assignment for you as a mom is to be committed to His Word. You are to do whatever it takes to embed the teachings of the Bible in your heart, soul, and mind. As the saying goes, “You cannot impart what you do not possess.” The same is true of moms. To teach and guide, lead and raise a daughter after God’s own heart presupposes and requires that God’s truth be in your heart first. Then you possess something to impart. Then you have the most important thing to pass on to your precious daughter—the truth about God and the grace He extends through His Son, Jesus.

Becoming the Bell Sheep

I hope your heart is responding fervently to our initial glimpse at this primary role in the life of a mom after God’s own heart—that of being your daughter’s very own bell sheep. But maybe you are feeling like you need a little help. Well, read on to find out how to become the bell sheep. Practical help is on the way!

Part 2 — Ringing Your Bell

You shall teach them diligently to your children,

and shall talk of them when you sit in your house,

when you walk by the way, when you lie down,

and when you rise up.

— Deuteronomy 6:6-7

When my girls were young, I didn’t know about the bell sheep. But if I had, I would have wanted with all my heart to be one. And I would have been praying, “Oh, dear Father! You know how much I desire to be a bell sheep for my daughters. My greatest goal in life is to lead them to Jesus and teach them His ways.” I’m imagining this same heart-cry is being lifted heavenward from your soul’s core too.

As you’ve probably learned, knowing there is something God wants you to do is crucial. And wanting to do what God wants you to do is vital. But if you don’t know how to do what it is God wants you to do, you can become extremely frustrated.

So now we come to the big issue of how do I do this thing God wants—and expects—me to do? Well, here we go!

Yes, but How?

How does a mom help her daughter develop a heart for God? Deuteronomy 6:7 comes to the rescue and answers this question for you and me. God says, “You shall teach them diligently to your children” (verse 7). A mom who wholeheartedly loves the Lord and holds God’s words in her heart is to teach them to her sons and daughters.

— “To teach” There are two key ways to teach—by model and by mouth. And there are some basic practices you can follow for teaching effectively. I have a degree in education and have taught preschoolers, students from grades seven through twelve, and adults taking night school classes. Teaching was a job and I took it seriously. I developed my lesson plans for each day, week, month, semester, and school year. And I studied and prepared in advance for each day’s classes.

I also have a daughter who homeschools. I am in constant awe of her commitment. She plans out each year. She searches for materials for five children and their respective grade levels. She orders curriculum to arrive well before back-to-school day so she can preview it. Then she plans in advance the best way to teach, lead, and guide the five of them through each day of study.

Now picture this: I taught subjects that had nothing to do with God or with being a Christian, and so does my daughter. Imagine the effort we both put into teaching information and facts. And here in Deuteronomy 6:7, God is telling both of us—and all moms—to teach our children His Word, His ways, His truth. Now, this is life-changing stuff! The Bible is wisdom that will guide their lives and their choices. It is truth that will pierce a heart and bring a daughter to Christ. So be aware that every time you teach God’s Word you, the bell sheep, are ringing your bell! You are signaling to your daughter the priceless value of the treasure of the Scriptures.

This is exactly what happened in the New Testament to Timothy. As the apostle Paul said of Timothy, his trusted associate in ministry, “from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 3:15). God’s Word is dynamite! And Timothy’s mom and grandmom, a mother/daughter tag team after God’s own heart, were faithful to ring their bells! They were faithful to teach him the sacred truths of the Bible, which paved the way for Timothy’s salvation. Mom and grandmom did their part—they fulfilled their mission to teach God’s saving truth. And God certainly did His part!

Time out for a second. I’m thinking as we pause here, shouldn’t a mom after God’s own heart who wants to raise a daughter after God’s own heart take her teaching of Scripture seriously? If you are in this position, shouldn’t you be committed to…

…instructing your daughter in God’s ways?

…planning to some extent how you will accomplish this goal?

…scheduling a time each day for some kind of formal Bible time with her?

…encouraging her to have some time alone with God, a quiet time?

…coaching her in ways to have daily devotions?

…searching for age-appropriate materials and talking with other moms about how they teach their children biblical truth?

…praying daily about this mission from God, this teacher role He has personally given you?

— “To teach diligently” Next God tells us in verse 7 to “teach them diligently to your children.” The “them” is what you are to teach—God’s Word and His commands. And “diligently” is how you are to teach—being purposeful and conscientious in a task or duty.

Think about this for a minute: What are you diligent about? Some women diligently floss their teeth. Others are so diligent they would never miss their daily exercise or walk, or be late to work, or fail to pay a bill on time. I know women who are so serious about every bite of food they put into their mouths that they diligently record what they eat in a daily log. On and on goes the list of life instances in which women choose to be diligent instead of careless, or lazy, or negligent.

Now switch your thoughts to doing what God says, to being diligent to teach spiritual truth to your daughter…versus leaving this all-important assignment to someone else, such as a church leader or a Christian school or a grandparent. Don’t get me wrong! These are wonderful and needed resources. But they are to be your partners in imparting truth, not your substitutes. You as a mother are to be the bell sheep who rings the bell of truth like crazy! You, mom, are to be the primary model and teacher of truth to your daughter.

Well, thank the Lord He doesn’t leave moms on their own. This isn’t mission impossible. No, it’s mission possible. God knows most moms don’t have a degree in education or training in teaching. And, whew, God doesn’t expect this or demand it! Aren’t you glad? Instead, He tells us how to teach and what this teaching involves. He says, “You…shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up” (verse 7).

No matter who you are, or what you do or don’t know about teaching—or how busy you are!—God expects you to pour God’s Word out of your heart and into your daughter’s heart. All you have to do is:

Now I ask you, you’re a woman. How hard can talking be? Why, we girls are the world’s experts when it comes to talking!

And note where all our mother-to-daughter talking and teaching is to take place—at home. Nothing could be easier or more natural or more convenient than home sweet home! You don’t need elaborate plans. You don’t need to dress up or go anywhere. You don’t need to start the car. And you don’t need to spend any money. No. God simply says that “when you sit in your house,” you are to talk about Him.

Whew again—this one’s easy! You sit to relax. You sit to eat. You sit to visit. You sit to read. You sit to work on a craft together. And you sit whenever you’re in the car together. No matter what your daughter’s age is, these natural, low-key, sitting instances provide prime opportunities to talk about the Lord and His love and His promises…and His Son.

And “when you walk by the way” you are to talk about the Lord. From babyhood, to toddler times, to little girl, to schoolgirl, you’ll be walking with your daughter. That’s your special time for talking about the Lord. So…

Got a newborn? You will walk…and walk…and walk each time you calm your crying, ill, or restless baby. And you’ll put in miles pushing her stroller. And you’ll find yourself talking baby talk to her. I laughed out loud when I read this true-to-motherhood quip: “Being a mom means talking to your baby all the time.” So go ahead and talk all you want. It will develop the habit in you—and tune your baby girl’s heart to your voice.

How about a school-age daughter? If you walk your young daughter to school or to and from the school bus stop, you get to talk about the Lord. Tell her how He will help her through her time at school, with her test or report, with making friends. If you walk to the mailbox down the road, take your daughter along and chat about the wonders of the Lord and what it means to know Him. Let her know how she can trust Him and talk to Him anytime, anywhere, and ask for His help. When you walk together through the grocery store or the mall, again, make that an opportunity to talk about God and His provision and blessings. If there’s a breathtaking sunrise, sunset, rainbow, or wonder of nature—a bird’s nest, blooming flowers, even something as small as a dandelion, go outside and marvel at God’s handiwork together. And while you’re at it, do as the psalmist did and “talk” of His doings. “Praise” the Lord for His mighty acts and His greatness. “Declare” His faithfulness.

And then come the teen years. Hopefully you and your daughter have developed the habit of talking to each other about any and every thing, and especially about the Lord. So during her teen years, when things can get a little weird, and she may even see you as a little weird, you can still talk because of your history of talking. Believe me, if you are available, and care, and give her your love and attention, she will spill all!

And if you haven’t developed this early habit of talking, don’t worry and don’t give up. Just be sure you start now. Start talking, even if your daughter doesn’t seem to be listening. She is hearing, and what you say in loving wisdom will be filed away in her mind and heart. And it won’t go away. She won’t be able to shake it or forget it. Draw your strength from the Lord and speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15). And if your daughter won’t talk to you, that’s okay. Just know before God that you talked, just like He asked you to do. You faithfully rang your bell. You shared truth from His Word. And take comfort in the fact that God promises His Word will not go forth in vain but will accomplish His purposes (Isaiah 55:11).

And to end each day and start the next, God tells you what to do in Deuteronomy 6:7: “When you lie down, and when you rise up,” talk! Talk about the Lord, and keep on talking about Him. You can help even your tiny young daughter start her days and end them with thoughts of God in her mind. You can greet your waking girl with, “This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it” (Psalm 118:24). Or you can call out, “There you are, my precious blessing from the Lord! Good morning!” And at night, prayer is the perfect way to put a little—and big!—girl to bed. It puts her day and all that happened to rest. It calms all sorrows and soothes every hurt from the day. And it quells her fears. Like David testified, “I lay down and slept; I awoke, for the Lord sustained me,” and “I will both lie down in peace and sleep; for You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety” (Psalm 3:5 and 4:8).

So…another of God’s assignments to any and every mom is to constantly be teaching and talking to your daughter about the Lord you love. Teaching and talking. And talking and teaching. Or put another way, ringing your bell! I hope you are grasping that being a Christian mom is more than taking your children to church. Home is a sort of church too. Home is the natural 24/7, morning-to-evening place to impress truth upon your daughter. Home is where she gets to see and hear every day how important the Lord is to you. Wherever and whenever the two of you are together is God’s opportunity for you to tell her about Him. So take advantage of the gift of such times. And if they are too few and far between, make it happen. Create the times together. In his book Shepherding a Child’s Heart, author Tedd Tripp gives this challenge to parents:

You shepherd your child in God’s behalf. The task God has given you is not one that can be conveniently scheduled. It is a pervasive task. Training and shepherding are going on whenever you are with your children. Whether waking, walking, talking or resting, you must be involved in helping your child to understand life, himself and his needs from a biblical perspective.

But What If…

I realize this ideal scenario does not happen in every mother/daughter relationship. Maybe the family you grew up in was not a Christian family. God knows that. He knows all about it—all about what you missed, and all about what you know and don’t know about being a Christian family and mom. So know that your mission is to begin where you are to follow the Lord. It’s never too late to receive Christ as Savior, to begin loving the Lord and growing in grace and in the knowledge of Him and His Word. You can choose any day—today, if you haven’t already—to begin diligently teaching the daughter you love, and talking to her about the God you love and who loves her. Point her to God. Encourage her in the Lord. Teach her what you know about Him from experience and from study. Pray for her with your every heartbeat. See her spiritual growth into a daughter after God’s own heart as your calling, your mission assignment from God. Commit to doing your part, and trust God to do His.

Perhaps you are thinking, This woman is crazy! Well, I wouldn’t blame you. But I will tell you I am crazy about God, crazy about my two daughters, and crazy about my four granddaughters. I will also tell you that I am passionate and passionately sold out to my role as a woman, mom, and grandmom after God’s own heart. It’s just so clear what God wants His moms to be and do. Your daughter has no other mother. You are the one He has chosen to teach her. And if you don’t, what if no one does?

Here’s a powerful description of what an all-out, all-or-nothing love for God and our daughters looks like. Let it encourage you today and in the decades of mothering to come:

…my mission is clear. I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, turned back, diluted, or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of adversity…I won’t give up, shut up, let up, or slow up.

You Can Do It!

Each of the following suggestions is something you can do to contribute toward becoming the mom you dream of being. And each one betters your life…and your daughter’s too. Here we go:

Analyze your day.

Think through the rhythm of your day and pinpoint your discretionary time, the time when you have a choice about how it is used, when you can choose how it’s spent. There is always time to do what’s important to you. You’ll need to find the time to get to know God—to put first things first.

Design a quiet time.

Once you’ve carved out a special time to be with God, begin reading your Bible—even for just ten minutes. It’s been calculated that if you simply read your Bible for ten minutes a day, you will read through all of it in one year. That’s a doable task for you as a bell sheep whose life goal is leading your daughter to Jesus. There are scores of activities that fill your day. So steal ten minutes from a nonimportant activity like time on the Internet, time talking on the phone, time watching TV. Make a daily appointment with God and allow Him to speak to your heart from His Word.

Memorize Scripture.

Here’s a statistic for you: People remember about 40 percent of what they read. Wouldn’t it be nice to remember 100 percent? Well, you can if you memorize verses from the Bible. That’s what someone told me as a new Christian, and I followed their advice. As I shared earlier, as soon as I read Deuteronomy 6:5-7, I learned it by heart. I also picked out some verses that would help me with my daily life, including the daily challenge of being a mom after God’s own heart. Like “I can do all things [including be a mom!] through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13). Once you store up some verses in your heart, you’ll find that wherever you are and whatever is happening, you can remember God’s words to you. And just think—as a bell sheep, you can draw your daughter to Jesus as you speak His words to her.

Read about parenting.

In my mentoring ministry, one of my assignments for the women I meet with and give my time to is that they read five minutes a day on a variety of topics. They can pick the topics and the books. They can buy them, borrow them, or check them out of the church library. I do this because I’ve been reading on my own topics for five minutes a day for decades! For instance, I’ve been reading five minutes a day on marriage and family for what seems like forever. The same goes for time and life management. And health.

If you do this too, you will amaze yourself as you become an expert on your subjects by merely reading five minutes a day on them. You will also be super motivated because the topic and your new knowledge is fresh in your mind. Instead of dreading something, you’ll look forward to approaching it differently and trying some new techniques or methods. Your reading will serve as a reminder and an instructor to pay attention to the areas of your life you targeted for growth. Pray, and then choose your subjects. Just be sure as a mom that childrearing is one of them.

Write a letter to God about your daughter.

Then read the letter to Him as a prayer. Prayer involves God. So now there are two of you taking on the challenge of raising a daughter after God’s own heart. It will seal your commitment to becoming God’s kind of mom so, Lord willing and by His grace, your daughter grows to be God’s kind of girl. File your “My Prayer to Be a Mom After God’s Own Heart” away where it is handy and can be prayed often, even daily. Your prayer is another good reminder each day to keep on keeping on in your goals as a mom and your goals for your daughter. And here’s an idea: Each year on your daughter’s birthday, slip a copy of your prayer into her birthday card. Be sure to tell her where you were and what you were feeling when you wrote it. What a gift!

Mom’s Think Pad

Before you move on to your next Mom Mission, take a minute or two to think about what you can do to track with God as a mom. Make some plans of your own to take a few small steps that make a big difference.

I’m awfully busy, but I want to be the mom God wants me to be! What are several things I can do—or not do—to create some time to get into God’s Word? I want to be a mom after God’s own heart!
I want to set a goal to memorize Deuteronomy 6:5-7. Here’s my checklist:
Write these verses on an index card and carry it with me.

Pick a daily five-minute time slot that works for my schedule, during which I can memorize these verses.

Write out each verse ten times.

Copy these verses on several more index cards and post them on the refrigerator door, bathroom mirror, computer, car dashboard.

Ask my daughter to help me memorize these verses, to listen to me recite them, to be my audience, my checker, my best helper!

What are some ways I can “teach” my daughter about God and His Word by “talking” about Him…
…when we are sitting together?

…when we are walking together?

…when she is going to bed or going down for her nap?

…when she gets up?

What are some ways I can be more faithful and “diligent” in passing on God’s truth to my daughter?
Do I need to be mentored in my own spiritual growth? Who could help me? Or is there a class I can take? A group I can join? A book I can read?

Here's my review:Raising a Daughter After God's Own Heart by Elizabeth George is an inspirational and practical guide to be the mom God desires you to be. Elizabeth is the mother of two girls who are now married. She starts off with a wonderful illustration of being a "Bell Sheep." She gives fun and unique names to roles you must play as a mom such as the Church Lady (take your daughter to church) and the Social Secretary (teaching your daughter about friendships). At the end of each chapter are a list of suggestions of what you can do to be the mom you dream to be. There is also a "think pad" with questions to consider. Elizabeth's wonderful suggestions are easy to implement and with Scripture sprinkled throughout to give foundation to the exercises that are given.

I read A Woman After God's Own Heart® by Elizabeth and it spoke volumes to me. This book is definitely one I will be picking up to read often as I teach and instruct my daughter as she grows. I love Elizabeth's no nonsense approach and her love for the Lord as she compels mothers to first be in tune with God. I strive everyday to enhance my relationship with God as I want that for my children. If you have a daughter or granddaughter, this is the book to get and read. This would be a wonderful study do with a group of moms who are intent on raising daughters after God's heart.

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Rebecca St. James hits the nail on the head with her new book, What Is He Thinking??: What Guys Want Us to Know About Dating, Love, and Marriage. This book was written for single young women. Rebecca interviewed sixteen single guys from early 20's to late 30's and eleven married men including her father and some of her brothers. She asked pointed questions about what guys are looking for, what they think about girls, body image, major turnoffs, spiritual connection, physical connection and marriage. She also asked married men what they have learned. All questions are located at the end of the book.

This book was filled with stories of what guys are looking for with girls, how the dating scene has changed and what to be working on in preparation for marriage. One of my favorite quotes is "If you are not healthy in your relationship with God, do not be surprised if you are not healthy in other relationships." At the end of each chapter there were some good take aways to remember. If you are single or know someone who is, this would be a great book to check out.

"Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or servicesmentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, Ionly recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255:"Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Win it: I am having a giveaway for this book. Open to US only and giveaway ends Sunday, October 9.

To enter: Be sure to click on all the links before filling out the entry form.

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Hey, blog followers! I have so many faithful followers, but I know that I have yet to visit some of your blogs. So if you have one, please put the link in the comments. I would love to get to know your blog better! Thanks for being a great follower. Blessings, Shonda

I love finding unique, yet simple ways to teach my child necessary concepts. The c3pla Sensory Math Teaching System is just such a resource.

The c3pla Sensory Math Teaching System was created by Domenico Marcario, M.S., a retired math teacher and loving grandfather, to answer those questions. This system utilizes the natural way children learn to teach them math skills. The Game Pack is presented in 3 stages, with a total of 20 steps and 2 games in each step covering the math skills of quantity, numeration, and operations.

I found the activities easy and the materials common and accessible in the home. These games are great for parents to play with their kids and each game builds upon the one before. All of the games are simple, yet each step adds more challenge. By the time your child has gone through this pack they will have gained some abstract and concrete math skills. Even as I was reading through them I wished that I had been taught math in this way. This makes math fun, interesting and exciting. Your child will not even know they are learning. I highly recommend this system for you to do with your children.

Monday, September 26, 2011

Heiress, a richly complex historical romance, is the first in Susan's three book Daughters of Fortune series. In honor of Heiress’ debut, Susan is hosting a FABULOUS Gilded Age Giveaway and giving away an opulent prize pack fit for an heiress!

One grand prize winner will receive:

A $100 gift certificate to ModCloth.com

A sleek silver iPod™ Shuffle

A beautiful strand of Pearls

Titanic DVD

Speakeasy Compilation Music CD from Starbucks™

Heiress by Susan May Warren

Click one of the icons below to enter. But do so soon - this giveaway ends 10/5/11. The winner will be announced Thursday, October 6 on Susan’s blog.

OK, four weeks in a row is a record for me. I might keep this up for another month or so, but it might not be permanent. I don't know. At least I can see what I liked and where I bookmarked. I'm still trying to figure out how to organize my hundreds of recipes!

Sunday, September 25, 2011

I decided to try the liquid soap foam pump for my next review from Tropical Traditions. I was given the three kinds of scents to test: lavender, tea tree and unscented. The first thing I noticed was that there was only one ingredient besides the essential oils for the scented soaps. Can you guess what it was? Virgin Organic Coconut Oil, of course! I was surprised and pleased. I placed each pump in a different location. As I pressed the pump a light foam came out and I lathered up and added water to make it soapy. I really enjoyed the scented varieties. What I liked best was there no mess and my hands felt smooth, fresh and clean! I decided to try them also as sink cleaners and shower gel for shaving. Perfect! The reason it comes out as foam is that air is added to the liquid. This makes the liquid last longer by using this method. And always, because there is only one ingredient, you are getting a superior product with no extra fillers!

If you would like to buy Tropical Traditions products, here is some more info:
When you place your order use this link: Tropical Traditions . (Thank you!) You can also obtain your own complimentary copy of Virgin Coconut Oil book. The book will be automatically be added to your order. I encourage you to look through the website for some great products.

Disclaimer: Tropical Traditions provided me with a free sample of this product to review, and I was under no obligation to review it if I so chose. Nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review in return for the free product.

I usually save all of my cleaning and organizing for weekdays. Weekends are my down time and also things just don't stay clean. I just have to live with some mess, although it's really hard! I also have a good problem: my husband loves to do cooking projects in the kitchen. Last week he picked 700 lbs of pears! The other day he started his pear projects. This makes for a very messy kitchen! But we will have dried pears, pear juice, canned pears, pear sauce and pear fruit leather. I can live with a messy kitchen for a few days!

So I'm changing my strategy because no matter how much I try to get the kitchen where I want it to be, it gets completely dismantled. So I will do low maintenance in that room for now. However, every time I walk into my bedroom "sanctuary" I want to crawl through the roof. It's a disaster. So I'm going to focus on that room for awhile. Whew, my perfection tendencies have me in a tizzy. I know that if I get one room clean I can work on other areas.

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Jeremy Riddle is a master worship leader! His strong voice and powerful lyrics draw the listener to a majestic place with God alone. The music is uplifting, worshipful and absolutely will have you singing along. He is reverent and his love for God shines clearly through every beat in this album. Riddle describes Furious saying, “It’s hard to come up with words that depict the magnitude of Christ’s love – the depth and width of it. Furious doesn’t work outside of the context of love; we tend to translate the word as angry, but I see it as a super-powerful force; stronger, deeper, broader than our vocabulary can fully describe."

OK, Jeremy Riddle's "Furious" is my new favorite worship CD! I had never heard of him before, but I'm going to start checking him out. The minute I started playing this music, I felt I was in a different place. His songs tell of our beautiful God and lead us to worship Him with every fiber of our being. The more I listened to this album, the more I drew closer to God. Even my son was singing the songs along with me. They are in my head and seeping into my heart! You will love Jeremy's new CD.

"Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or servicesmentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, Ionly recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255:

"Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Win it: I am having a giveaway for this CD. Open to US only and giveaway ends Sunday, October 2.

To enter: Be sure to click on all the links before filling out the entry form.

Monday, September 19, 2011

Wow, 3 weeks in a row! I'm on a roll. For those of you who don't know, at this time last year I was pregnant (but didn't know it- read story here) and I didn't want to cook or eat anything that I made. This lasted the ENTIRE pregnancy. It was awful. I had no desire to cook and it was hard because that is a passion of mine. So now that I have my appetite back I'm so excited about all the fun recipes I'm finding to make.

As always, things didn't go according to plan. But I'm so much less stressed because there is always something to eat!

Another challenge I have is using up what we have in our pantry, freezer and fridge. It's actually fun to figure out what to make with what I already have. Lots of substitutions is key! I'm trying to reduce our food budget as we have some big expenses that we are trying to pay off right now.

Katie Lapp, a young Amish woman, is about to marry the widower Bishop John. But she still can't let go of the memories of her first love, Daniel, who taught her to sing and play guitar which is forbidden by the Amish. But Katie tries to remain loyal to her Amish upbringing until one day she finds out a secret her parents have kept from her about her birth. Katie becomes confused and refuses to turn her back on her "English" desires. Katie sets out to discover the truth her parents try to hide and ends up being shunned from her community.

I loved the scenery in this movie. I lived in Amish country some of the years I was growing up and enjoyed watching this movie about simple ways and loving families. I thought the characters were very genuine and the dialect was authentic. The story had such emotion and I truly felt the most heart broken for Katie's mother, Rebecca. The shunning was demonstrated very well and showed exactly how the Amish handle such a situation, but also how much the parents really cared for their daughter that they would even break protocol. Of course, this movie needs a sequel! It's fun to watch a book I enjoyed by Beverly Lewis come alive onscreen.

Saturday, September 17, 2011

I just wanted to give you a little update on my book giveaways. Recently, we had a major setback in our finances due to a HUGE hospital bill that we have to pay off. On top of that, since I am no longer nursing we've had to switch to formula which is a large expense even despite coupons. We are trying to cut corners on everything. And unfortunately one of the areas is sending books off to winners from my giveaways. I am still trying to include all other kinds of giveaways that have my sponsor send you the winning item. However, do not give up hope! I am SAVING a lot of books that I am reviewing and when I get to a point where we are out of the water, then I will have a big book giveaway event. So, please forgive me if I can't offer as many book giveaways right now. Hang with me!

To celebrate the release of her first Christmas book, Suzanne Woods Fisher has teamed up with her publisher, Revell, to bring you the "Christmas in September" iPad Giveaway! The winner will be announced on 9/27 at the A Lancaster County Christmas Facebook Party! Details below. Tell your friends and join in the fun (9/7-9/27).

Oh and be sure to follow the blog tour here - many of the bloggers have copies of the book to giveaway!

Suzanne and Revell will be presenting one merry winner with a Christmas Prize Pack (valued at over $600):

A Brand New iPad 2 with Wi-Fi

$25 gift certificate to iTunes

A copy of A Lancaster County Christmas

To enter, click one of the icons below. But, hurry the giveaway ends on 9/26.

But, wait! There's more! The winner will be announced at the A Lancaster County Christmas Facebook Party on 9/27 at Suzanne's author page. During the party she'll be revealing something *BIG* - you won't want to miss it. She'll also be hosting a book chat, trivia contest and giving away a few early Christmas presents! Hope to see you there.

Jaime is a needy young woman who yearns for the love of her father while pushing away the obvious love of her husband. Mattie is a young Amish mother with a wonderful marriage and little boy who longs for more children. A few days before Christmas the worlds of these two women collide in an unforgettable Lancaster County Christmas,A by Suzanne Woods Fisher. Jaime meets Mattie's family in a doctor clinic and finds herself running an errand to return a little Amish boy's owl whistle. Circumstances force Jaime and C.J. to postpone their plans to rendezvous with her father for a Christmas cruise. During their brief stay a search commences for the young boy and Jaime and Mattie discover they had more in common than they realized.

This story is about healing and being content with the gifts God gives even if they don't align with desires. At first, the contrast between these two women is vast but as the book progresses, the gap begins to close. This book had multiple themes and stories within stories. I wasn't quite fond of the actions and emotions of Mattie's nephew, Zach or the fact that there were no chapters. I also never felt the urgency of the missing boy until right before he was found. But as the book ended I became endeared to all the characters and was glad to see how Jaime and Mattie responded to the blessings they were already given.

*This product was provided to me free of charge for purpose of this review. This is my honest opinion of this book and no monetary compensation was received for my opinion.*

Friday, September 16, 2011

This week I started using The Six List from ListPlanIt.com. What a difference it makes for me to list things that I need to get done. I love making lists and checking things off, don't you? If you are like me, maybe you should check out ListPlanIt.com. They offer tons of great ways to get organized.

I was faithful to make my lists, but some days I couldn't get everything done. But that's OK! I did get most things done and I felt very accomplished. And it's amazing to look at my list and see all that I really did.

I was really motivated this week when I saw cleaning up clutter making a big difference in my spirit. When I was a teacher I always cleaned the classroom and set everything out for the next day so that when I came in the morning it was all ready to go. I hope to incorporate some of that in my own home. Making lists keeps me accountable to myself and I love it! Now, I'm inspired to do more to bless my home!

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Theo is an older British man who invites you into his home for a theological explanation of God told in a very simple way. This brand new cartoon was created to reach children of all ages and parents too. The seriousness of the subject is offset by the bumbling mice Luther and Belfry who provide comic relief and humor as well as object lessons. Theo's reverence for God immediately draws the viewer to this lovable character. The high quality animation is beautiful and the concepts are presented in a very visually pleasing way. The lessons and teachings can be used in church and home. There is also curriculum, books and iPhone/iPad app.

We watched "Good News" and "Saving Faith." My son was very excited to see Bible stories come alive in this simple presentation. I really liked that at the beginning of each program Theo was singing an old beloved hymn. I think these short lessons are easy to understand and are a great bridge to discussions of sin, faith and the Gospel.

For every Theo DVD purchased, Whitestone Media and Child Evangelism Fellowship® will send a child in need their very own copy of Theo. You can log onto TheoPresents.com after making your own purchase, and select the region of the world you'd like another copy of Theo to be sent.

"Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services
mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I
only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.
I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255:
"Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Win it: I am having a giveaway for TWO winners of this DVD. Open to US only and giveaway ends Sunday, September 25.

To enter: Be sure to click on all the links before filling out the entry form.

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About Me

My husband and I have been married for 12 years and we have an energetic and curious 8 year old son and a happy yet feisty 5 year old girl! I am a SAHM (after 12 years of teaching K) and we are very healthy and strive to be holy. Come join me as I explore life as a mom, cooking, faith and organizing. Don't forget to head over to my Milk N' Honey blog for teaching and homeschool ideas

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My Life Verse

Matthew 6:33 "Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well."